THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH STARS TO RATE DAMON BAEHREL!!!!! The hubs and I were extremely lucky and…read morefortunate in being able to come here to celebrate my birthday!!! Damon Baehrel, which is named after the chef himself, is probably considered the most exclusive restaurant in the world. It is literally a one-man show, as Chef Baehrel is the one who cooks, serves, and hosts a 5-6+ hour-dining experience for his guests at his beautiful home on his 12-acre property in upstate NY. As most know, this restaurant is booked solid until the year 2026, and they have not been taking any reservations/adding parties onto their waiting list since last year/'14 (this is for an indefinite period of time) - you bet your tootin' bootin' that I felt so victorious for bypassing others on the list by 11+ years!!! (Just note that it really doesn't matter 'who' you are, 'who' you know, and/or if you come equipped with a list of multiple referrals.) Known for his 'Native Harvest Cuisine,' every single item on his menu (besides the seafood that is brought fresh from Nova Scotia from his private supplier) is made/created/raised on the premise - when I mean every item, I mean EVERY item, from the flours, pressed oils, vinegars, breads, to the curing his own meats and aging his own cheeses! This restaurant is the epitome and the prime definition of what 'farm-to-table' should really be! We were welcomed warmly from Chef Baehrel, and I was super excited that we were his only guests for the evening - YES, IT WAS JUST THE 3 OF US, THE HUBS, ME, AND THE CHEF!!! (I think I literally sobbed right on the spot). Our super private dining experience was about 5.5+ hours, but actually flew right on by and was like a total dream - we were given a multi-course menu (about 24-26+ items, including some handful of extras since the Chef was just super excited in having us(!!!)), that featured seasonal, organic plants/fruits/vegetables/trees from his property, in addition to a lovely educational overview of each of the ingredients used for the dish. I just couldn't believe at some of the ingredients that he had used, and how each of them had a distinct flavor (and were all actually edible/okay for human consumption!) - it was amazing to listen to the experimentation, the time spent, the punctuality of harvesting such items throughout the year, and the multiple aging/preserving/curing process that he does. I had a lovely wine pairing with the multi-course dinner (delicious champagne, reds, whites, and dessert wines), while the hubs had homemade juice pairings made from the luscious fruits/tree saps (super delicious and refreshing!). The love, the passion, and the excitement from the chef was just purely an eye-opener, and this literally was the BEST DINING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!!! BELIEVE THE HYPE (of the very few limited ones there are) - Chef Baehrel will change your life and exceed any and all expectations that you may/will have!!! You have to go there to experience it personally, as there are no words to describe such a unique experience - the overwhelming appreciation that you obtain in tasting the raw essence of the ingredients that are found around you was truly truly truly remarkable - Chef Baehrel is a GENIUS! Just note that there is no photography/video/recording equipment/note-taking allowed inside the restaurant, so PLEASE be respectful to the Chef (and, shame on those 'bloggers' who disregard/circumvent around this request/policy!). I cannot wait to go back! :D +BEST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER!!! +Chef Damon Baehrel :D +Native Harvest Cuisine :D +5.5+ dining experience :D +no photography/video/recording equipment allowed inside the restaurant - please be respectful!

Much has already been written about Damon Baehrel so I will try and be succinct. I put in my…read morereservation request in August 2012 and fully expected a 5-year minimum wait but to my delight I was able to snag a "special seating" on a Sunday at 4pm. It helps to be flexible with your dates and within driving distance. 20 courses (!), 4.5 hours. 5 hour round trip drive. 1 car rental. Completely worth it. Damon Baehrel is the ultimate host, completely charming and engaging. My wife and I were the only guests and it was awesome! Not awkward at all. What I loved about the meal, besides his "Native Harvest" dishes, was that by the end of it you can start to understand his botany heavy food lexicon, as certain themes started to emerge. Stevia and clover as thickening agents, all sap everything, powders galore, nut flours, fermentation trickery, homemade cheese. Homemade everything! (except some salt and the seafood/wine). Hearing his insanely detailed and clever course preparations makes you feel guilty about eating all of these small bites in less than 30 seconds. Damon paces the meal perfectly, always happy to chat and answer your questions at length. He takes great satisfaction in his cooking and sharing his techniques. This meal is about learning the process as much as it is about eating, and both are better for it. There were some items that sounded cooler than they tasted, but overall each dish was solid. The highlights for me were the teal duck and the duck egg "creme brulee". I guess I like duck. If you are fortunate enough to get a reservation here come with an open mind and don't expect a rich fancy-pants food experience or you will be disappointed. PS - Leaving a one-star review for a restaurant you have never eaten at just because you can't get a reservation is pathetic.

Exceeded our expectations, we were looking for a late lunch place after skiing & they are open on…read moreMonday until 5 pm. Hipster coffee shop vibe. It is a simple sandwich shop with plenty of free seating, the foods are well made & prices are reasonable. Free water & free parking.

Awesome service, good food and casual ambience. You order at the counter and the food is served at…read moreyour table. There is ample parking in a private lot in front of the restaurant as well as street parking. Their pancakes and omelettes were fluffy and soft.

Definitely a dive bar, but the hazy IPA was solid. Everything else was about what you'd expect from…read morea dive bar.

What a great place , had a great time . The food was great ,the drinks were strong and the staff is…read morethe best . Special shout out to Vera and Sarah. Made our night even better . Highly recommend this place.

The restaurant is elevated in both cuisine and atmosphere, but not at all stuffy--perfect for…read moredinner before going to a show. We had an delicious meal in a cozy, well-decorated atmosphere with great service. As others have mentioned, the pita with whipped butter drizzled with honey as a starter is a must. There was a nice selection of mocktails for me, a non-drinker who still wants something festive. My trout was delicious as was my spouse's pork chop. Our salad was not particularly memorable, but was fresh. For dessert we shared a turkish delight panna cotta--it turned out to be heavenly. Fresh, milky panna cotta topped with a layer of soft, rosewater flavored turkish delight (not solid, just right) with some toasted pistachios. We'll definitely return.

Great little neighborhood restaurant with a romantic dinner vibe. Parking is not fantastic, even…read morethough it's about 20 minutes away, this small town seeems to be EXTREMELY busy during the Rhinebeck sheep and wool festival. For dinner we ordered the soup of the day, I think it was butternut squash the chicken schnitzel & double pork chop for dinner. The pork chop was a LOT of protein. But it was delicious, I had to pick up the bone and make sure I gnawed on it and got every last morsel. The schnitzel was ok, nothing fancy or remarkable. The serve staff was friendly and helpful but I could have used a couple more visits to my table for drink refills.

Everything. Yes. Delicious food. Our server was amazing. The seating was superb. I wish I'd gotten…read morea photo of our table and chairs. We were tucked away in an indoor/outdoor area with gorgeous orange comfy chairs. We did not come in with a reservation. Again this place was a stumbled upon gem. We looked online for a nice place to go for my boyfriend's 30th birthday. He loves moose and we love farm to table food. The server helped us decide what to get for drinks, both delicious. The food.....holy cow. Heavenly. Our two meals tasted so vastly different so it was great that we were each able to sample the other's and they were both SO tasty. We asked our server for a special dessert for his birthday, she asked if we liked bananas and we enthusiastically said yes. Next thing we know, this decadent warm banana and caramel creation is coming towards us with a giant sparkler. This was probably hands down....one of the best desserts I have ever had in my life. I would make the trip back up here solely for that! Should we ever find ourselves back up in the Catskills, this will ABSOLUTELY be on our list of places to revisit.

This place is incredible! Everything from the food, staff, cocktails, wine and ambiance were top…read morenotch! We sat at the bar and had a wonderful time chatting with the staff who expertly guided us through the menu. Best charcuterie I've ever had, and the resiling paired perfectly! I can't wait to come back!

First of all, when you walk into this place it smells amazing. It was one of those bright, chilly…read morespring days in the Catskills when it looks nice outside but you need gloves. We were seated immediately in a very cozy booth, and the server was friendly and helpful. We had the fondue, of course, with apples and veggies added on. We shared knishes, and then each had a cup of soup. Everything we tasted was delicious, exactly the kind of warming, comforting, stick to your ribs food you want after a morning hike. The one thing I wasn't wild about was that they charged for each drink refill, but the server was attentive and the fondue was so good that I can definitely forgive that.

Last Chance was hoppin' when we stopped by for a late lunch. Upon entry, a sign was spotted telling…read morediners to wait to be seated. But several awkward minutes passed and another party came inside before anyone greeted and escorted us to a table. Oddly, a runner walked by the entrance a few times but didn't acknowledge us and seemed to avoid eye contact. Prices were were a hair higher than expected, but thankfully the portions were filling. I went with the tavern steak sandwich ($22). The fries were the steak kind but not too fat and wedge-y. There was a totally reasonable amount of Muenster and steak, and I found that the sandwich didn't really need the accompanying steak sauce. The mac & cheese ($14) was a delightful appetizer made with a whopping five different cheeses! Last Chance mentions both antiques and cheese in its name so we had to investigate both. Instead of a separate shop, the antiques are all around the restaurant, and our server said some are for sale and some belong to the owner's private collection but he seems possibly open to offers. The cheese and gifts are in an area on the other side of the bar, with the cheese behind a counter. I thought the cheese collection would be larger and have more NY options, but it was still a solid selection. If you plan on purchasing any candy or other treats after your meal, just let your server know so you can take your bill over there.

My happy place. Seasonal dishes, locally sourced. An ever changing menu. Weekend brunch is divine -…read moreespecially the smashed fingerling potatoes. Exceptional Benedict sauce. Rotation of soups are superb. The calamari is light and almost always perfectly cooked. It's missed once or twice - but when it's on, chef's kiss. Always pushing for really wonderful food.

Good food, nice interior, get place to visit if you're in Ulster County, eclectic menu to select…read morefrom!

"Among the Catskills, a disjointed member of the Adirondacks, there lives a simple and good natured…read morefellow named Rip Van Winkle". - Washington Irving. And I can continue to quote much chapter and verse of this posthumous writing as the writing is near and dear to my heart - the gallantry shown at Fort Christina and more, the true founders of New York and I wish the good Peter Styversant were here today to drop a heap of learning about America on you who don't understand not just NY history, but America! Love it or be gone. Arriving at 5:45, I hadn't inquired as to what time the first tee ball hits the air, turns out it's about 8:00am. So I practiced my sneaky bump and runs, flips and flops and Texas toe downs. And player worth his salt has to know a multitude of great escape shots. So I lead the field being put out as a single with twins and fours amassing behind me and being 2 years removed from the short grass (due to injuries) I was a bit nervy on the 1st tee, nobody knew who I was, everyone else knew each other. Fortunately I ripped a low 3 iron cut stinger and I was off, still walking and carrying my bag, adding layers and subtracting layers as it was nippy in the mountains. I love the classic shallow and square bunkering design originally popular with architecture from the 20's and 30's. The greens rolled true but I couldn't buy a putt, not much break out there and putting off the second collar is doable. The fairways were in the shape to be expected for early season golf, what I should have done was pay closer attention to the unseen creeks that protected some greens and ran out along the sides. But I was the first player and I needed to set a good pace out there. Overall, the course played extremely fair, I can't give the staff enough credit for such fine service for me, attentiveness and extremely friendly.

Rip Van Winkle holds a special place in my heart…read more Not only is it the closest golf course to my parents' home and as such the place where I've golfed the most in the past decade (not saying much), but it's also the first place my brother, my father and I played after my father went through some very serious medical issues. We weren't entirely sure if he would ever be able to play golf again, so it was an amazing feeling to get out and hit a few balls with him last year. My father is doing much better now (physically at least, not that much better at golf), and so we try and get out whenever possible. This adds up to a couple times a year here when I'm in town, and accordingly, I am very, very bad at golf. Please believe that no one is mistaking Rip Van Winkle for something that belongs on the PGA Tour. When Greene County hasn't gotten enough rain, you may see a few brown spots out there. It's only nine holes, and generally pretty flat. However, it's an accessible, family-run place that I feel lucky to be able to play. It's affordable (kids play free too), and has my kind of casual vibe. I love that if I forgot to pack a collared shirt, they don't hassle me. My dad says the owner John is a great guy, and I like that his teenage son is often riding around tidying up the course. It's a true family biz. They do a good job too; the greens are well-maintained, the mountain backdrop is gorgeous, and you can't be sad about any day you spend trying to knock a little white ball around a beautiful grassy area. I suppose I can be sad about how poorly I do it, but I'm pretty happy here overall.

Came here for a late lunch on a Friday afternoon and we were worried that there would be a wait but…read morethankfully we got seated right away. The moment I stepped foot in the diner, I was instantly enveloped in a nostalgic and cozy atmosphere. It was full of charm with all the decorations. Definitely what you would picture in those classic movies/shows. Food was 10/10!! I ordered the buttermilk pancakes which is what they are most famous for and for good reason too! Fluffy and light and amazing portions (5 big pancakes with mixed berries)! The pancakes were so good that we bought a bag of pancake mix to take home. My sister ordered the eggs any way and she loved everything that came with it: eggs, choice of bacon or sausage, potatoes, and toast. Everything on the menu looked absolutely delicious and it was hard to decide what to order. They have weekly specials as well. Our waitress Susie was an absolute sweetheart and made our entire experience memorable. That being that we had asked her for some more water and by the time she came back around, someone else had already stopped by and filled up our glasses. She apologized for the delay by giving us a free chocolate chip cookie and it was the best damn cookie I've had in a long time. She went above and beyond for something that wasn't a big deal, but we appreciated the thought. I'd definitely come back here if I'm near the area.

It's a Catskill relic, so it was only right that we went! What a cute little diner!!!…read more We got there right when it opened because its first come, first serve. That was a power move on our part. It started to get packed quickly! The food was good! I got the biscuits and gravy. The biscuits were nice and buttery. So soft. The gravy was great, too. It was lacking a TAD bit of flavor. I wish the sausage pieces were a little larger, too. The pancakes, which they are known for, were good! They were soft and pillowy. Delish. The service was good. Our waiter was spread thin for a little while her coworkers came in about an hour after we were seated. They had merch to buy and of course I had to partake! Such cute little souvenirs! Overall, a great place to visit!!! Especially if you're a Severance fan!

From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome -- like being greeted at a…read morefriend's front door. The atmosphere immediately invites you to stay awhile: relaxed, cozy, spotless, and effortlessly trendy without trying too hard. It's the kind of place that feels both comfortable and current. The menu offered an excellent variety, making it hard to choose, but we started with the goat cheese and mushroom flatbread appetizer paired with cocktails, and it was the perfect beginning to the evening. Flavorful, balanced, and beautifully prepared. For dinner, we sampled two outstanding entrées. The wild shrimp dish was incredibly fresh, served over a vibrant mix of garden-picked greens, avocado, watermelon radish, and a flavorful kicker dressing that tied everything together perfectly. The Faroe Island salmon was equally impressive -- perfectly cooked and topped with locally picked ramp-infused butter, served over asparagus and fingerling potatoes. Every bite tasted fresh, seasonal, and thoughtfully crafted. Overall, this was a wonderful dining experience with warm hospitality, a welcoming vibe, and food that truly delivers. We will definitely back for dinner and stay for the live music as well.

This is a wonderful restaurant in tiny Fleischmanns, NY. Super hip, yet elegant vibe for such a…read moresmall town filled with so many vacant, derelict buildings. Excellent food and friendly staff. Filled with locals who all seem to know each other. My girlfriend and I spent two nights in a B&B just a block away, and we stopped in on a Saturday night. It was packed, and the only space was at the large communal table in the middle of the room. Our food took 40 minutes to come out, but the waitstaff was incredibly apologetic and offered to comp a round of drinks, and we were in no rush just enjoying the atmosphere, so no worries there. We had a flatbread with arugula and prosciutto and pasta with grilled chicken. Both were incredible. My girlfriend has spent a lot of time in Italy and has laughably high standards when it comes to pasta, and she wouldn't stop raving about how good her penne was. There was a corner filled with musical instruments, so it looks like they host live music as well, though not while we were there. Overall this is a great restaurant in a rural area that is worth driving to if needed.